Project Summary / Abstract The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) Summer Research Fellowship Program is a cancer education program that enables 30 first- and second-year U.S. medical students to participate in laboratory and clinical research under the mentorship of MSK’s clinical faculty. Launched in 1977, this program has enabled approximately 1,610 medical students to contribute to the research enterprise of a premier academic medical center. Program participants can work with mentors and in labs centrally involved in both basic and clinical research; attend MSK’s abundant didactic opportunities; learn how to blend lessons from science and clinical practice; and present their work to a range of audiences. The MSK Summer Research Fellowship Program helps address two significant challenges in the field of oncology. • The need for more oncologists, especially physician-scientists: In a 2014 report, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) projected a shortage of oncologists over the next decade due to several factors, including the aging population and an aging oncology workforce. Also, in 2014, the NIH issued a report that anticipates that the rising generation of physician-scientists will be insufficient to replace those nearing retirement age. The rapidly advancing field of cancer care requires an oncology workforce of appropriately trained and engaged physician-scientists that can maintain the pace of translation research developments. This program aims to ameliorate this shortage by engaging students’ interest in oncology research careers. • The need for more physicians from underrepresented minority populations: The report from ASCO described a need for greater racial and ethnic diversity in the physician workforce. This program has been able to grow in both size and diversity through the support of MSK’s Office of Diversity Programs. In the most recent grant cycle, approximately half of our participants were from underrepresented minority groups.